kiler



(No Model.)

w. HELFENBERGER & G. W. & 0. M. KILERQ FENCE POST. I No. 394,854. Pay-tentd Dec. 18, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

WILLIAM IIELFENBERGER, GEORGE IV. KILER, AND CHARLES M. KILER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

FENCE=POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,854, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed November 9, 1887- Serial No. 254,887. (No model.)

TOaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, \VILLIAM IIELFEN- BERGER, GEORGE W. KILER, and CHARLES M. KILER, citizens of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in fenceposts of the class in which the posts consist of two parts, one of which is metal and forms the base which isdriven into the earth, and the other part of which is wood and which is adj ustably secured to the base.

I 5 In usual fence-posts of this construction considerable difficulty has been experienced in making the wooden part of the post adj ustable with relation to the base and retain in the different positions of adjustment a close contact and solid bearing between the post and base for the full width of the post,which is a material advantage, and is essential to the proper construction of an adjustable fencepost, and the accomplishment of .this is one of the chief objects of our invention.

Another object of our invention is to produce a composite post of the class mentioned which will bear driving without disconnecting its parts, which may be aligned or setplumb and securely fixed in position before driving, may be differently adj usfed after the base is driven into the earth, and which may be cheaply manufactured.

The invention consists in. the special con- 3 5 struetion and arrangement of the parts of the post, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation our improved fence-postyhig. 2, a

side elevation opposite to that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a front elevation; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base.

The base consists of a casting having the three radially-arranged longitudinal flanges a b c, which are tapering, as shown, a vertically-projecting lug, 2, having at its lower end or at the upper terminus of the radial flanges a Z) c a convexed post supporting flange, (7, projecting out at right angles thereto and extending the entire width of the lug e, for the purpose hereinafter set forth, said flange (Z connecting the flanges a l) c at the tops, one of said flanges, as shown, terminating directly central with relation to the outer edges of said convex flange (7, thus forming a central support therefor and securing the maximum amount of strength at the points where it is needed with the minimum amount of material.

The vertical web or lug c, projecting up wardly from the rear edge of the convex flange (1, is arranged parallel with a line drawn across the outer edges of two of the adjacent flanges.

The flanges a I) c, the vertical lug e, and post-supportingconvexed flange d are all cast in one piece.

The vertical lug 2 has formed therein near its upper end a curved transverse slot, f, which is concentric with the convex upper surface of the post-supporting flange d, and has projecting from its inner face one or more points or barbs, if, to project into and hold the wooden post when clamped into adjusted position.

The lower bearing end of the wooden post P is concaved to correspond to the convexity of the upper surface of the supporting-flange (1, upon which it rests. This construction of the lower end of the wooden post and the upper surface of its supporting-flange insures a continuous and close bearing the full width of the post in all its adjusted positions, which is a great desideratum,it maintaining a wide solid bearing, obviating looseness, and, in consequence of its close contact, in a measure pre vents the admission of water to rust or rot and weaken the hearing. The post in practice will be made narrower than the full width of the convex bearing-flange (Z. This arrangement forms practically a ball-and-socket con- 0 nection between the base and wooden post, and the bearing strain upon the flange (Z and end of the post is equal at all points.

The purpose of the convex upper surface of the flange (1 and concaved lower end of the wooden post P and the curved slot f is also to allow the lateral adjustment of the wooden post after the base has been set, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1, the lower concaved end of the wooden post resting at all times solidly upon the convex surfaced flange d.

In operation, the wooden post having been secured to thebase by the bolt 71,\\'hi(.:h1')asses the curved slot f' in thelug e and through the said post, the base is set so that one edge of the wooden post shall. be on a line of the proposed l'enee, and in ease of a wire fence that part of the base from whieh lug rises shall. be toward the side from which the wires are to be strained, thus presenting the r(. -entrant angle formed by two of the flanges at rightangles to the line of draft. The-base is then driven into the earth by blows upon the top of the post, the lower end ol 1he post resting solidly on the upper eonvex face of the supporting-llange (l. After the base has been driven the vertieal alignment of the post is elleeted by loosening the bolt 7: and swinging the post laterally outward or inward, as may be required, the lower ('oneaved endv of the post rest ing and 1 urning upon the wnvex-surfaeed llange (I.

1. A eoinposite li'enee-posteonsis1ing of the tapered radially ilanged base having the vertical lug or web e at its upper end, with the eurved slot/"therei u, said lug having the barbs z: projeeting outward as described, the eon- \PX-Slll'flOetl flange (.1, projecting from the lower end of the lug e at right angles and extending across the upper ends of the radial flanges of the base, the curve of the flange (I being concentric to the curved slot f, and the wooden post P, eoneaved atits lower end to correspond to the convexity of the supporting-flange, and a bolt, h, to extend through the post and curved slot in the lug e, to secure the parts together, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A t'tmee-ymst comprising the base, eonsisting of the three tapered radial longitudinal flanges (l, l) o, the post-s11pporting plate or flange (Z, eonvexed at its upper surface and extending lunizontaflly entirely over and formed contiguous with the upper ends of the 1hree longitudinal flanges, and having the Yertieal lug or web (2 extended up from one edge thereof, with the eurved slot formed therein, as deseribed, and the wooden post I, eoneaved at its lower end and resting its full width upon the eonvex flange rt, and the bolt 71, to seeure the parts together, substantially as and For the purpose set fOllll'l.

-WILLIAM IIEL'FENB'ERGER. (l'EORGlC \V. KILER. CHARLES M. KILER.

W i1 nesses:

V. M. HOOD, ll. 1-. HOOD. 

